title: Managing pregnancy in inflammatory rheumatological diseases.
abstract: Historically, pregnancy in women with many inflammatory rheumatic diseases was not considered safe and was discouraged. Combined care allows these pregnancies to be managed optimally, with the majority of outcomes being favorable. Disease activity at the time of conception and anti-phospholipid antibodies are responsible for most complications. Disease flares, pre-eclampsia, and thrombosis are the main maternal complications, whereas fetal loss and intrauterine growth restriction are the main fetal complications. Antirheumatic drugs used during pregnancy and lactation to control disease activity are corticosteroids, hydroxychloroquine, sulphasalzine, and azathioprine. Vaginal delivery is possible in most circumstances, with cesarean section being reserved for complications.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department, City Hospital, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, Dudley Road, Birmingham B187QH, UK.
authors.forename: Varsha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents